Supersized smartphone popularity surges in 2010, NPD Group claims

Market research firm The NPD Group on Monday published the latest data surrounding sales of supersized smartphones in the U.S. Using its “Mobile Phone Track,” which tracks smartphone sales in the U.S., NPD has determined that smartphones with screens sized 4 inches and above became tremendously popular in 2010. Devices like Sprint’s HTC EVO 4G and Verizon Wireless’ Motorola DROID X, which launched in the second quarter of 2010, grew to encompass 24% of the U.S. smartphone market by the fourth quarter last year. The EVO 4G was the most popular supersized smartphone in 2010, followed by the DROID X. Samsung’s Fascinate, Captive and Vibrant rounded out the top-5 in that order, according to NPD Group. The firm’s report also notes that fourth-quarter sales of smartphones with screens between 3.5 and 3.9 inches grew just 2% compared to the same quarter in 2009, and sales of smartphones with screens sized 3.4 inches and below dropped 63% over the same period. Hit the break for the full press release.

The NPD Group: Larger Smartphone Screens Gain in Popularity

Driven largely by sales of high-end Android phones, mobile handsets with screens that are 4 inches or larger now comprise nearly one quarter of all smartphone sales.

PORT WASHINGTON, NEW YORK, March 21, 2011 – According to The NPD Group, a leading market research company, U.S. consumers are willing to give up room in their pockets and handbags to gain a richer media experience on their mobile devices. The U.S. market share for iPhones and other smartphones with screen sizes between 3.5 inches and 3.9 inches have remained steady, but smartphones with the largest screens (4 inches or larger) have grabbed market share from devices with screen sizes that are less than 3.5 inches.

Based on the latest information from NPD’s Mobile Phone Track, smartphones with 4-inch-or-larger screens, like Samsung’s Galaxy S, HTC’s EVO 4G and Motorola’s Droid X, which debuted in the second quarter (Q2) of 2010, quickly grew to encompass 24 percent of the market by Q4 2010. The market share for iPhones and other smartphones with screen sizes between 3.5 inches and 3.9 inches increased 2 percent over the prior year’s Q4; while the market share of smartphones with screens smaller than 3.4 inches, declined from 63 percent in Q4 2009 to just 36 percent of the smartphone market in Q4 2010.

The five best-selling handset models in 2010 that had screen sizes of 4 inches or larger were as follows:

HTC EVO 4G

Motorola Droid X

Samsung Fascinate

Samsung Captivate

Samsung Vibrant

“The explosion in Web and video content available for smartphones has caused consumers to rethink their phones’ sizes,” said Ross Rubin, executive director of industry analysis for NPD. “Larger displays offer a richer media experience, as well as a roomier surface for on-screen keyboards. Handset vendors are continuing to push the envelope of pocket real estate to complement the video capabilities of 4G handsets.”

While men still make up the largest share of consumers purchasing smartphones with the largest screen sizes, women are increasingly likely to buy them. In Q2 2010 just 30 percent of large-screen smartphone purchasers were women, but by Q4 2010 women represented 40 percent of large-screen smartphone sales.

Data Note: The information in this press release is from Mobile Phone Track – NPD’s consumer tracking of U.S. consumers, aged 18 and older, who reported purchasing a mobile phone. NPD does not track corporate/enterprise mobile phone purchases.

Exactly. If you look back, what high-end smartphone was release with anything smaller than a 4.3″ screen? Only one phone comes to mind, the Droid 2 and maybe the Incredible (but that’s been out for ages). I’d personally love to get a phone with a 4″ screen but that just isn’t offered.

Anonymous

Incredible S. You’re welcome!

Anonymous

There are several 4″ coming within the next month. Incredible S, a new Samsung and a new LG.

Anonymous

Right, but that’s upcoming. You have to look back to what period they were researching and what was out then.

Jroc869

galaxy s phones had 4″ screens

Anonymous

Erm… supersized smartphone *production* has surged massively in 2010. Of course popularity will surge along with it.

In fact, I would argue the opposite of the analyst: “explosion in Web and video content available for smartphones has caused consumers to rethink their phones’ sizes”

If more content were designed for smaller screens, there would be far less drive to get the larger screens. A lot of the the big screen’s appeal comes from the fact that there are so many web sites that are NOT mobile friendly.

At today’s press conference concerning the iPhone 4 reception issues Steve Jobs indirectly attacked the new group of large smart phones that have been coming onto the market calling them “Hummers” and claiming that “No one is going to buy them.”

Someonexh

LOL @ ports being mixed around. They have them labeled wrong. :)

http://www.bignerdblog.com BigNerd

Actually, those are correct, micro-usb on the left, mini-HDMI type D on the right.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AR6HpRLyzMY Walter Sobchak

4″ iPhone 5 inevitable?

Anonymous

And, it will still be ‘behind the times’.

Anonymous

Why they are still on a 3.5″ screen is beyond me.

Anonymous

I’ve been saying it since June, “Size Does matter and bigger is better!” So, those of you still stuck on your 3..7″ iTelefonos with your perfectly placed little “Home” buttons can just eat iCaCa and continue with the size envy. And, by all means, invest in some iGlasses.

whythehate

You just can’t get over the iPhone’s success, can you?

Anonymous

Can you get over Android’s?

…

what success?

whythehate

Can I get over anDROID’s? That’s a good one! I mean, really clever!

Anonymous

There really is nothing to get over; I mean 3.7″ iScreen, 0.30 (pixel) Front Facing Camera, no Flash content, no interchangeable or expandable memory, no add content without iTunes, same ol’ “Home” screen layout, same ol’ ‘but my “Home” button is perfectly centered and I can locate it in a drunken stupor’ and that’s just from a non-technical standpoint. But, if it makes you feel any better I’m also anxiously awaiting the White iPhone 4 to color match everything at home and to feel like a born-again cleansed iVirgin.

whythehate

If there’s nothing to “get over”, then why the iPut-downs? Except for a very few people (mostly found on these sites), no one using an iphone is concerned about anDROID phones being bigger or better. When/if they make an iPhone with a bigger screen, then there will be some iPhone users with big screens.

http://www.bignerdblog.com BigNerd

I need bigger front pockets… and I’m already quite a husky fellow.

I remember when everyone wanted smaller phones… are we going back to bag phones soon?

Guest

When they are the same resolution, isn’t it just a matter of how far you have to hold it away from your face. How can you “design” video for a 3.2″ or 3.5″ screen and make it better than a 4.3″?

Anonymous

Oops, someone forgot to sign-in?

…

someone forgot to sign out…do u ever have a life?

Anonymous

Since I have a Grandfathered truly Unlimited Data Plan for PDA/Smartphone (not an “added feature” to a voice plan which is probably what you have), I never have to worry about signing out. I could leave my DROID X running Youtube videos via the Browser all day and never have any Data overages. Or. download Gigabytes of movies and content onto my memory card and still not be concerned with excess Data charges. And, to answer your question, no; I merely exist to annoy nameless people like you …

…

wow, i have that much power of u…ur more pathetic than i thought.

Anonymous

@…
Ahhhhhhhh… laaaaaame, just like your name…
In closing my dear friend, ‘may the iForce be with you and your iPon …’.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AR6HpRLyzMY Walter Sobchak

No it was meant as a reply to Marc_Paradise but it started a new thread, so I went to disqus, tried to delete it and re-reply, and failed again.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AR6HpRLyzMY Walter Sobchak

When they are the same resolution, isn’t it just a matter of how far you have to hold it away from your face. How can you “design” video for a 3.2″ or 3.5″ screen and make it better than a 4.3″?

http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=503037611 Brett Smith

I’m going to start a company that states the obvious.

Signed,

Caption Obvious Group

Anonymous

personally I dig a smaller smartphone because i don’t have giant hands…if i need a bigger screen I’ll get a tablet..

Anonymous

Your hands are perfect for me. Delightfully perfect!

LongTimeSprintUser

Now if they can Super Size me a phone with a physical keyboard!!!

Douche

Oh is this why Blackberry is getting stomped on? Because of their small screens? Oh wait nevermind it’s because they’re pieces of crap.

Charlie Manson

I thought Steve Jobs and all the Apple fanboys said screens that are 4 and 4.3 were to big. I thought consumers would not buy them? Acording to Apple fanboys here what Steve Jobs says is gospel.

Dario69

When consumers have no other choice so they can get the “latest and greatest” hardware I wouldn’t be surprised to see the so called popular demand balloon in the last month. When there are no other choices (iPhone aside) of course it will become popular just by default alone.

I came from the HD2 (running WinMo then Android) to the Captivate to the iPhone4. I for one do not mind the smaller screen because I am getting sick of the same old HTC square phone design that started with the the original HTC Touch HD. While Apple could expand the screen slightly with the existing iPhone4 frame I would say do not go any larger. They need to separate themselves from the competition.

Dario69

Oops, I meant the balloon in the last year not last month. But in the technology world that isn’t too far off. Give me a phone that dispenses coffee.

Anonymous

Ooh, that’s a job for android. If anyone can do it it’s google. Give it two months and you’ll see that.

Brian

I agree. I don’t think it is directly responsible for “supresized phone” growth. The most feature-packed phones happen to have larger screens. For example, last Thanksgiving my brother liked the Droid X the best, but would have preferred if the screen was slightly smaller. Droid 2 was smaller, but had a sliding keyboard he didn’t want. Since Droid X was the most feature-packed phone, he ended up with a bigger screen. Same with Sprint… the EVO is the most popular phone because of its features, but given a choice in screen size (but same phone otherwise), not everybody would necessarily choose the largest screen. And of course there are people where screen size is an important feature.

Anonymous

Yes, and the minute Steve Jobs stands on a stage somewhere and proclaims the invention of
the new 5″ iPon (contraction of iPhone + Tampon = iPon),
all the sheep will think it’s the invention of the wheel [again].
But, of course, they’ll want for the White one.

Its funny to go into bestbuy and see the iphone4 next to the large screen android devices. iphone 4 now looks like a toy.

http://twitter.com/willsours Will Sours

“Nobody wants those” – Steve Jobs

Anonymous

That’s so right. Every story is about apple even if they’re not mentioned in the story. Thanks fellow goofan (aka apple hater)…

Anonymous

You can thank the EVO for that…..Im sorry, but its hard for me to go back to 3.6″ after seeing 4.3″ just cant do it. You wouldn’t drive a 3 Series if you could get a 7.

http://twitter.com/CapnDAPPER Daniel King

there was a man who once said that a 4″ screen on a phone was essentially doomed to fail and dumb…mind you, this is the same man who said that running a phone on EDGE was better than 3G…

Anonymous

I came from the Incredible (3.7″) and now have the Thunderbolt (4.3″). I had always thought the DroidX and others were too big and bulky and said, “No way”. However, now after playing with the TB for the last 4 days, I can honestly say, there is no way I would ever go back to a smaller screen. The screen real estate makes things soooo much easier and eye-friendly. I’m all about the big screens now.

Anonymous

I had an original Droid. Great phone. A little accident with a car tire led to an update to a Droid X. The value of that extra screen real estate can’t be overstated. Despite some comments to the contrary, virtually everything I do on my phone benefits from that screen size. Typing (regular or Swype), reading text, games, video….you name it. The phone is still fits in my pocket. And women I know who have switched to a 4.3 screen have commented that while the phone felt uncomfortably large in the beginning, they have actually become comfortable with it and appreciate the larger size now.

http://bbcwebhosting.com/ BBc Web Hosting

Can such just fit in a the pocket of a simple jean?

http://atspangler.net/ atspangler

Dell Streak (5″) here.. As an IT pro, having a screen over 4″ has been invaluable. I love having the versatility and perceived power behind a phone like this.

“At today’s press conference concerning the iPhone 4 reception issues Steve Jobs indirectly attacked the new group of large smart phones that have been coming onto the market calling them “Hummers” and claiming that “No one is going to buy them.”